August 13, 2010 11:25 am

It’s a new, fun, made up holiday. And it’s something I can get behind: a holiday devoted to meat.

The first ever St. Meatentine’s Day is Saturday Aug. 14 at the Harmon Tap Room. The event is the beefy vision of Steve Haverly, a self-described meat fanatic and lifelong Tacoman.

I asked Haverly why he was hosting the event Saturday at the Harmon and he said the event is, simply put, to honor meat and men. Says Haverly by email: “I decided that men need a holiday that they look forward to just as women generally look forward to Valentine’s Day.

A big bacon salute to Haverly. Click “more” to read about St. Meatentine’s Day. If you go to the event, please take pictures and tag them to the TNT Diner Facebook page.TNT Diner: What gave you the idea for this event?

Haverly: The idea came from finding out that not everyone is on board with Valentine’s Day and I wanted to create a holiday that EVERYONE looked forward to that was sort of the Anti-Valentine’s Day… without calling it the “Anti” anything. So, I just kept figuring out ways to celebrate.
TNT Diner: What’s your favorite meat?

Haverly: Hands down for me, is steak! LOVE steak more than anything but I’ve got to say that King crab runs a close second. Together? I’m in heaven!

TNT Diner: What is St. Meatentine’s Day, exactly?

Haverly: In all honesty, St. Meatentine’s Day is the direct opposite of St. Valentine’s Day… THUS, it’s 6 months removed on August 14th. I was watching a segment of The Today Show and Donny Deutsch was asked by a woman, “Do men care about Valentine’s Day?” To which he responded, “NO! We don’t! We ONLY do it because we HAVE to!” So I got to thinking… why is that? And after coming up with a thousand reasons why, I decided that men need a holiday that they look forward to just as women generally look forward to Valentine’s Day. So, I created St. Meatentine’s Day. I soon found out that just as many women were in favor of the holiday as well. So, just as Valentine’s Day is not gender specific, neither would St. Meatentine’s Day be gender specific. And it has simply taken off from there! A holiday that EVERYONE can look forward to, single or not. Not a holiday only reserved for couples.

TNT Diner: Why did you decide to have an event dedicated to the Patron Saint of Meat?

Haverly: Well…. I am a carnivore through and through. LOVE steak. Always have, always will. I was the kid at the dinner table who would sneak his vegetables into the garbage can or even out the window on several occasions JUST to not have to eat them. I’ve always said that bread and vegetables take up “valuable meat space in your stomach.” So, I could not think of a better name for such a holiday nor a better food to have that holiday revolve around, than meat!

TNT Diner: What kind of meat will be served at St. Meatentine’s Day?

Haverly: We’ve actually done some research and have brought in famous flavors from around the country. Most notably, possibly THE best burger in the world. The Pier Burger, served ONLY at Eric’s On The Pier in the city of Avalon on Catalina Island. Two beef patties, American and Jack cheese, one all beef hot dog, one entire green chili, mustard, onions and pickles on a grilled bun. Fried egg, optional. The chefs at St. Meatentine’s will attempt to replicate this on St. Meatentine’s Day but there truly is only ONE Pier Burger. We will also have pulled pork sandwiches, other burgers and even something for the vegetarians who attend the event. Everything that we will be preparing with revolve around meat in addition to the other menu items at Harmon Tap Room.

TNT Diner: If St. Meatentine were any kind of meat product, what would he be? (Please say pork).

Haverly: PORK! Well… actually a nice juicy steak! After all, he was “The Patron Saint of all that is thick, juicy and slightly pink in the middle”! Saint Augustine Meatentine. Born: August 14, 1000 AD. Created BBQ: August 14, 1024 AD. Died: August 14, 1068 AD.

TNT Diner: Will Hallmark have a card dedicated to the day? If so, what will the slogan be?

Haverly: I’ve actually already written more than a dozen “Meating Cards” for the event! As well as come up with our own vocabulary. Such as when we have meetings, they are actually called “Meatings”. The definition of a Meating is: An assembly or gathering of people, as for a business, social, or religious purposes with the sole purpose of discussing meat. Another slogan that we have adopted is “Beef, beer, bands and baseball.” Which is the basic premise behind the holiday.

St Meatentine’s Day

When: starts at noon Saturday, Aug. 14. Continues to closing.

Where: Harmon Tap Room, 204 St. Helens Ave.

Restaurant number: 253- 212-2725

Cost: No cover, just show up and buy meat. And don’t forget: Harmon beer.